‘Clearly they are a dangerous team, aren’t they?’

Edinburgh began their European campaign with a losing bonus point away to Montpellier before thrashing Toulon at home in their second pool match.

But, if they have serious ambitions of reaching the quarter-finals, victory is essential on Friday in the first of back-to-back meetings with the Falcons.

Edinburgh have won their last seven matches at Murrayfield since April and, in their Champions Cup final pool fixtures in January, they travel to Toulon before finishing against Vern Cotter’s Montpellier.

“For us to qualify, we have to win at least three games,” Cockerill points out.

“We have a good record at home, but I don’t think there are any favourites in this group anymore. If Newcastle can go to Toulon and become only the second side to win there in Europe, clearly they are a dangerous team, aren’t they? We have to make sure we are right.”

With nine Scotland internationals – plus two more on the bench – returning to the fold and formidable Fijian number eight Viliame Mata back in harness, Cockerill has picked “by and large” his best team available.

Only wing Duhan van der Merwe and fly-half Jaco van der Walt remain from the side thumped by Munster in the Pro14 last week, but he is confident his frontline operators are ready to resume where they left off.

“They have all been rested and I expect them to be full of energy and fully motivated,” he added.

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